Same Kinda Different

Chapter 5

*Annual Beach Trip*
I laugh as I watch Remi throw sand at my mom and my mother get on to her. Mom turns and gives me a look that tells me to stop laughing and get my daughter to quit throwing sand. I smile at the memories being made here and think about the memories I have from this place. I finally stand up and pick Remi up and spin her around. She giggles and starts squirming. I put her down on the sand. As I turn to grab her sand bucket I hear her screaming Tuck!

I look around and see my daughter running off towards some people. I take off after her until I actually do see Tucker pick her up and kiss her on the cheek. I jog up to them and look at Remi.
"Remi! Don't do that again! You scared me!" I say to her.
Tucker wraps his arm and me and says, "Baby it's fine. She came straight to me. I heard her yelling my name."
I give him a look and say, "You do know she could have been kidnapped! How was I suppose to know for sure that you were Tucker and not some crazy person?!?"
He leans down and quickly kisses me and says, "I hope crazy people aren't kissing you, Lake."
I pop him on the arm and mumble, "She scared me."
As I saw this I spot a young girl looking at us. Tucker smiles at her and waves her over to us. He wraps his arm around my waist and says, "Charly, this is my girlfriend Laken and her daughter, Remi. Lake, this is my sister Charly."
She grins at me and says, "Is this the famous girlfriend we can't ever get him to shut up about?!?"
I grin at her and nod my head.
She squeals and says, "Your so pretty! Tuck how in the world did you get her?!? Am I the first to meet her?"
Tucker says, "No, dad has met her. Not sure how I got to be so lucky and date her. I was amazed she said yes to me."
I roll my eyes and say, "It's probably because you were texting, calling, and visiting me nonstop. I just started to like you."
He raises an eyebrow at me and I laugh. Remi starts clapping her hands and is trying to get out of Tucker's arms. She looks at him and whines.
Tucker smiles and says, "Use your words, KR, or I'm not putting you down."
Remi whines again and points at Dally and Mack. Tucker groans and says, "Great. The dogs are here."
I pop him on the arm and take Remi from him and whistle for the dogs to come to us. I sit Remi down and tell her to stay right here and play with them.
Tucker pulls me to him and whispers in my ear, "By the way, your the hottest woman out here. Damn I'm a lucky man to get to call you mine."
I look up at him and shake my head no.
"Yes, you are. Guys keep turning to look at you. Should have seen the couple that were watching you run over here to get Remi. Made me feel a little prideful that my woman gets looked at and I know that at the end of the day she gets to come home to me." He whispers to me.
He kisses me and we hear someone chuckle.
"Dang, Tuck, you get to the beach and just start making out with random gorgeous girls?" A tall muscular guy asks.
I blush and look at Tucker who is grinning from ear to ear.
"CJ, this is my girlfriend Laken. Lake, this is my older brother CJ."
"Hi! Nice to meet you. Tucker talks about y'alls family all the time." I squeak out.
CJ smiles and says, "Nice to finally meet the famous Laken and that must be Remi. I swear you'd think she was Tucker's with the way he talks about her."
I look at Tucker who is looking down and blushing.
"He might as well be. He's the first real male figure she's had in her life other than my dad." I tell CJ. Tucker wraps an arm around my waist.
"I'll gladly claim her as mine. She's a sweet kid." Tucker says to us.
A very pretty older woman walks up to us carrying a baby. CJ holds his hands out to take the baby.
"This is my daughter, Lyla. Lyla, this is your future aunt, Laken."
Mine and Tucker's eye both get big as we look back and forth between CJ and each other.
CJ starts laughing and says, "Don't give me that look, Tuck. Your head over heels in love with this woman. And she seems pretty smitten with you. The way you talk about her I wouldn't be surprised if you two aren't engaged by this time next year."
"Not sure about that but we will see." I mumble then look at the woman who brought Lyla to CJ.
"Hi! I'm Laken Brown." I smile at her as I introduce myself.
She smiles and says, "Tucker, you and your father didn't give her enough credit. She's beautiful. I'm Susan, these goofy children's mother, and according to CJ your future mother-in-law."
I smile and laugh as I watch Remi wrap herself around Tucker's leg. He picks her up and kisses her cheek.
"This is my daughter, Remi. Rem, can you say hi?" I say as I watch Tucker's family all watching him with her. It makes my heart swell to watch them two but to also hear from his family how much he adores my daughter.
"Hi.." Remi quietly says.
"KR, we both know your not shy so stop acting like that. This is my family." Tucker says to Remi. He starts introducing everyone to Remi and I can't help but smile.

"You are smitten with my son aren't you?" Susan asks me.
"She is even if she doesn't want to admit it. He's been good for her though. He's been very patient and helps her when she needs it." My mother says as she walks over to us.
"Susan Beathard, nice to meet you." She says to my mom.
"Anastasia Brown." Mom introduces herself.
"Anastasia, good to see you." Casey says to my mom as he walks up to us. He hugs me and says, "Good to see you too, Laken."
I smile at him and say, "Hey, Mr. Casey."
"Tucker said you were coming on a beach trip yourself. I just don't think we expected it to be the same beach as our family reunion." Casey says to me.
"I don't think we ever even told each other what beach we were both going to. I'm glad though. Someone has been whining that she missed Tuck." I laughing say.
Tucker kisses Remi's head and asks, "Did you miss me, KR?"
"Not as much as momma did." KR replies back to him.
I look away blushing but smiling.
"How about y'all come over for dinner tonight? I know it's  a heck of a way to meet the family but we've been wanting to meet Laken and Remi." Susan states to us.
I look at mom as she smiles and nods her head.
"That sounds good to us, Mrs. Beathard." I tell her.
"Please just Susan. You make me feel older than what I am calling me that." She says to me.
I smile and say, "Well it's time to go get Remi a snack but we will see y'all tonight."
I take Remi from Tucker and kiss him. He whistles at me as we walk away and I just shake my head.

*That night*
I keep adjusting my sundress and keep looking at myself in the mirror. I feel like I'm underdressed for this. Mom steps into the bathroom and smiles at me.
"Laken, stop. You look fine princess." She says to me.
"I just don't feel like I do. What if they hate me? What if they tell Tucker we don't need to be together? What if they secretly don't like that I have a daughter already?" I start questioning mom.
"Laken Abilene, stop right there. That boy is in love with you and with Remi. They like you wether you believe it or not. Now come on and let's head over there. Remi is ready to see Tucker."
We leave and head to where Tucker and his family is staying.

Tucker opens the door and smiles at us. Remi is already at his side and hugging his leg. He laughs and picks her up.
I smile at him and hold up a bottle up wine. "Mom decided that we needed to bring something. So we brought wine. I hope that's okay. I almost made my ranch dip but I wasn't sure if it would be eaten or not."
"Yes Lake, that's fine. Really?!? You know I love your dip." Tucker says.
We hear someone yell, "That's not the only thing of yours he loves."
Tucker yells back, "Shut up, Clay!"
I laugh and say, "I know, usually you and Remi have it eaten before I can get any of it."
He shakes his head while smiling and says, "Come on in. Mom is working on a couple last minute things, while dad is grilling and us kids are hanging out."
We take the wine to the kitchen where Susan tells me to put it in the fridge.
"Is there anything I can help with?" I ask her.
I watch her smile and then look at Tucker. "No why don't you and Tucker go ahead and go on out on the porch. Anastasia, do you mind helping me with a few things?"
Mom tells her that she will. As she does this Tucker grabs my hand and starts to lead me outside. He puts Remi down and sits down. He pulls me into his lap and kisses my cheek. I smile as I see that his siblings are watching us.
Remi stands in front of us and puts her hands on her hip.
"Oh lord. Your acting like your mother now, KR." Tucker says to her.
"Play, Tuck!" She squeals.
I get up so Tucker can play with her. I smile as I watch him.
"He calls Remi KR, can you explain that to us?" Charly asks me.
I laugh and say, "Her actual name is Kaitlyn Remi and Tucker decide he wanted to be different and call her KR. He's the only one allowed to call her that. She flips out if anyone else does it."
"He's different with you I hope you know. He's talked about you non-stop since that day at Big Machine. He loves Remi to death, also." CJ says to me.
I smile at CJ and say, "I'm glad. I really like him. He's been different with me ever since we first started talking. He knows about my past and he tries not to hurt me because of it."
CJ smiles and says, "We're glad to have you as part of the family, Laken."
I grin as I watch the man I'm slowly falling in love with happily play with my daughter.
A little girl walks up to me and sticks her hand out and says, "I'm Tatum! I'm Tucker's favorite!"
I smile and say, "Well hi Tatum. I'm Laken. I'm Tucker's friend."
Tatum says, "You mean your his girlfriend?!?"
I laugh and nod my head at her.
"Do you know to braid?" She quietly asks me.
I smile at her and say, "Yeah I do. Would you like me to braid your hair?"
She grins and nods her head.
I start braiding her hair and talking with his family. I've quickly fallen in love with his family. After I finish her hair, Tatum climbs in my lap.
I look over at Tucker and see him smiling. He mouths I love you and I can't help but to grin at him.